Discharge port and breech for compressed gas gun

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a specially curved discharge port and port within a bolt within the breech for a compressed gas powered gun for the firing of projectiles. The invented gun has many improvements over the prior art including the use of improved gas pressure routing allowing for operation at lower pressures with no decrease in firing rate, efficiency, trajectory, or range. The structure of the present invention provides for embodiments which include the use of specific maximum angles within the gas passage from a compressed gas storage chamber and a portion of the breech through which the gas is routed as it expands to launch a projectile from the gun.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] This application claims priority from prior provisionalapplications, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/125,302,filed Mar. 19, 1999; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.60/138,323, filed on Jun. 9, 1999, and from prior, co-pending U.S.Conventional patent application, Ser. No. 09/528,482, filed Mar. 17,2000, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by thisreference. This Application is a continuation-in-part of the U.S.Conventional patent application, Ser. No. 09/528,482, filed Mar. 17,2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention generally relates to compressed gas-powered gunsand more specifically to guns for firing marker projectiles such as“paint balls.” The use of marking guns is well-known. Within a markinggun, there is employed a projectile which is generally in the shape of asphere. This projectile is constructed of a thin wall which will readilybreak upon impact against a target. Typical material for the wall of theprojectile would be a gelatin. Within the wall of the projectile iscontained a quantity of a liquid such as a colored paint. Typical paintcolors would be blue, green or yellow.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] Compressed gas powered guns for the firing of projectiles havelong been used. Of more recent use, such guns have been made for thefiring of spherical and fragile projectiles containing a colored markingfluid, such projectiles commonly being referred to as “paint balls.”Such guns are typified by other inventions of the Inventor, namely U.S.Pat. No. 5,497,758, showing a compressed gas powered gun. Problemsassociated with such guns include: dangerously high pressure build-upwithin the gun, potentially damaging the gun and endangering the user; amechanical limitation on the cycle time of the firing mechanism limitingthe firing rate of the gun; excessive shock and recoil resulting fromreciprocal movement of the hammer into the firing and recockedpositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is a specially curved discharge port andport within a bolt within the breech for a compressed gas powered gunfor the firing of projectiles. The invented gun has many improvementsover the prior art including the use of improved gas pressure routingallowing for operation at lower pressures with no decrease in firingrate, efficiency, trajectory, or range. The structure of the presentinvention provides for embodiments which include the use of specificmaximum angles within the gas passage from a compressed gas storagechamber and a portion of the breech through which the gas is routed asit expands to launch a projectile from the gun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a side, schematic view of one embodiment of the presentinvention showing the invented gun in the cocked position.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a side, schematic view of another embodiment of thepresent invention showing the invented gun in the firing position.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side, schematic view of a pneumatic gas cylinderassembly according to the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side, schematic view of a section of the pressurerouting system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment to be preferred of acompressed gas powered gun, made according to the present invention, isdisclosed. The gun includes, generally, a grip 45; a body, including anupper main housing 3 and a lower main housing 1; a barrel 10; a bore 5;a bolt 9 within a breech; a hammer chamber 2; a pneumatic gas cylinder34; a slider 33; and a trigger 24. Throughout the Description, the term“forward” indicates being towards the outer, open, free end of thebarrel 10 extending from the upper main housing 3 of the gun. “Rearward”indicates the opposite direction of “forward.”

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a projectile feed tube 6 opens intothe barrel 10, said projectile feed tube 6 for supplying the barrel 10with projectiles 100, which are preferably spherical in form and containa marking fluid. A conventional projectile retention lever (not shown)biased by a spring allows only one projectile 100 to enter the barrel 10at a time.

[0013] Generally rearward and below the barrel 10, the hammer chamber 2holds a hammer 32 which is integrally attached to the forward end of theslider 33. Slider 33 horizontally and reciprocally moveable within gascylinder 34 from a cocked position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a firingposition, as shown in FIG. 2, through the use of spring bias andcompressed gas. The slider 33 is cocked by means of an electronicsolenoid actuated 4-way valve 65 located in the lower main housing 1. Amanifold 8 connects the 4-way valve 65 to the pneumatic gas cylinder 34.When biased to the firing position, the slider 33 forces the hammer 32to engage a valve stem 29. A link pin 41, circular in cross-section,extends between and connects the bolt 9 to the hammer 32.

[0014] The bolt 9 is held within the gun through use of the link pin 41,attached to the hammer 32. Removal of the link pin 41 allows the bolt 9to be removed from the gun. This may be done for routine maintenance.The link pin 41 is held in place by means of a bolt retention spring 76.

[0015] Within the pneumatic gas cylinder 34, a main compression spring71 extends between the slider 33 and an end-cap 35 which is attached atthe rearward end of the gas cylinder 34. A solid main spring guide 36rests within the cylinder 34 between the slider 33 and the end-cap 35,said guide 36 for receiving the coiled main compression spring 71.Slider 33 is biased forward to a firing position by the main compressionspring 71 and compressed gas (not shown). The shock of the hammer 32 isdampened both as the hammer 32 moves forward into the firing positionand as it returns to a recocked position. The forward motion of thehammer 32 is dampened by both the valve spring 72 and the compressed gassurrounding the valve spring 72. The rearward motion of the hammer 32 isdampened by an o-ring 84 located in gas cylinder 34, between the guide36 and the end-cap 35.

[0016] Releasably holding the slider 33 in a cocked position is anelectronic solenoid activated 4-way valve 65. The electronic solenoid 60is actuated through a micro-switch 61 located rearward of the trigger24. Pulling on the trigger 24 sends an electronic signal to a CPU(microprocessor) 64 located in the grip 45. This CPU 64 by means ofsoftware determines which of a number of dual in-line package(hereinafter “dip”) switches 63 have been switched on or off, therebydetermining the firing rate and mode selected by the user. The CPU 64then, based on firing rate and mode, actuates the solenoid 60, causingthe 4-way valve 65 to shift, causing the slider 33 to be propelledforward under the bias of spring pressure and compressed gas. The CPU 64then deactuates the solenoid 60 causing the 4-way valve 65 to shift, andcompressed gas forces the main compression spring 71 to compress therebyrecocking the gun. A trigger spring 75 forces the trigger 24 back to itsoriginal position.

[0017] Compressed gas for propelling projectile 100 and for moving theslider 33 to a firing position is provided from a canister or cylinder(not shown), which may be attached directly to the gun or may beattached to the person operating the gun. The gas is fed through a highpressure (hereinafter “HP”) regulator 50, and then through a passagewaythrough a high pressure adaptor 51 to a cavity defined by lower mainhousing of body 1. The high pressure regulator 50 reduces the gaspressure from over 500 pounds per square inch (hereinafter “p.p.s.i.”)to around (hereinafter “˜”) 250 p.p.s.i. The HP regulator comprises anHP adjustment screw 39, an HP regulator spring 73, an HP regulatorpiston 53, an HP regulator cup 52, and an HP regulator cup spring 74.This high pressure regulator 50 further comprises a safety featureforcibly closing the high pressure regulator cup 52 when over 800 or sop.p.s.i. is applied. This closure protects the inner workings of the gunand protects the gun's operator.

[0018] Contained within the gun are two valve means. The first valvemeans is for operating an LP circuit, including for propelling theslider 33. The second valve means is for operating an HP circuit,including for supplying gas to propel the projectile 100. The firstvalve means further comprises a low pressure (hereinafter “LP”)regulator 54 for reducing pneumatic gas pressure from the ˜250 p.p.s.i.supplied to ˜85 p.p.s.i. This pressurized gas is then channeled to thegas cylinder 34 for the propulsion of the slider 33 upon actuation ofthe trigger 24. The LP regulator comprises an LP adjustment screw 56, anLP regulator spring 173, an LP regulator piston 153, an LP regulator cup152, and an LP regulator cup spring 174. This low pressure regulator 54further comprises a safety feature forcibly closing the low pressureregulator cup 152 when over 300 or so p.p.s.i. is applied. This closureprotects the inner workings of the gun and protects the gun's operator.

[0019] The second valve means includes a horizontally oriented valvestem 29 which is horizontally and reciprocally moveable within the valvestem guide 30. Valve stem 29 is provided with a valve cup 28 engaged bya valve spring 72, biasing the value cup 28 to a seated position on thevalve stem guide 30 to prevent flow of compressed gas from the highpressure storage chamber 210 into the barrel 10.

[0020] It has also been found that projectile 100 velocity can bemaximized through the use of specifically angled surfaces within the gaspassage 4, through which the gas expands as it enters the barrel 10. Thegas passage 4 is defined by the continuous conduit extending from thevalve cup 28, through the valve stem guide 30 and the forward portion ofthe bolt 9. When the valve cup 28 is actuated to an open/firingposition, the gas is allowed to expand through the conduit extendingthrough the valve stem guide 30 and the bolt 9. Bolt 9 has an angledport 220 drilled through its forward portion. Valve stem guide 30 is thedischarge port. Bolt 9 with its port 220 is in the breech of the gun.The breech is connected to the rearward port of barrel 10. The innersurfaces of the valve stem guide 30 and the bolt 9 are machined to forma conduit having a specific maximum angle through which the gas expands.It has been found by the inventor that 23 degrees ±5 degrees is theoptimal angle for these surfaces. Use of such angular surfaces allowsthe present invention to fire a projectile 100 using less than one halfthe p.p.s.i. of traditional guns at the same firing rate as those guns,without jeopardizing the effeciency, trajectory or range of theprojectile 100. By funneling the gas as it expands through the use ofsuch angular surfaces, resistance is reduced, thereby allowing firing ata high firing rate to be done with lower p.s.i.

[0021] The gun further comprises an electronic system comprising acircuit board 62 containing a microprocessor (CPU) 64, and a series ofdip switches 63 which can be set to control the firing rate and mode ofthe gun. The gun is further programmable so as to allow firing rate andmode limits to be forcibly set.

[0022] Sequential action of the gun may be seen to advantage. Aprojectile 100 is in place within the barrel 10. A second projectile(not shown) is held in place above the barrel 10 and within feed tube 6by the projectile retention lever (not shown). Slider 33 is in thecocked position via the solenoid 60. It is assumed that the highpressure regulator 50 is in fluid communication with an externalcompressed gas source (not shown) to fill the high pressure storagechamber 210 with compressed gas.

[0023] The trigger 24 is then pulled, a microswitch 61 is activatedsending a signal to the CPU 64 that the user wishes to fire the gun. TheCPU 64 then determines which dip switches 63 have been preset by theuser, thereby determining the firing rate and mode of the gun. Upondetermining the firing rate and mode, the CPU 64 then directs thesolenoid 60 to act accordingly. The firing rate and mode of the gun aredetailed as follows:

DIP Switch Settings—Modes—Rate of Fire

[0024] (Note: the following settings are not shown in attached Figures.)

[0025] Rate of fire is dependent on the mode and switch settings of thedip switches. Modes are:

[0026] 1. semi-auto (one single shot per trigger pull),

[0027] 2. 3 shot (3 shots if the trigger is pulled and not released,with single shot capabilities),

[0028] 3. 6 shot burst (6 shots if the trigger is pulled and notreleased, with single shot or any amount between capabilities),

[0029] 4. Full auto (as long as the trigger is pulled it will cycle).

[0030] Mode selection is done via switches #1 and #2. Mode settingsusing the switches are as follows: #1 #2 off off Semi auto mode on off 3shot mode off on 6 shot burst mode on on Full auto mode

[0031] Rate of fire and timing is as follows:

[0032] Dip switch #3 and #4 (registers Solenoid on; times inmilliseconds) #3 #4 off off 06 ms on off 08 ms off on 10 ms on on 12 ms

[0033] Dip switch #5, #6, and #7 (registers Solenoid off (delay beforere-cycle); times in milliseconds) #5 #6 #7 off off off 70 ms on off off80 ms off on off 90 ms on on off 100 ms off off on 110 ms on off on 120ms off on on 130 ms on on on 140 ms

[0034] Dip switch #8: display cycle rate, mode and shot count. ondisplay yes off display no.

[0035] As the solenoid 60 is deactuated, the gun is cocked. As thesolenoid 60 is actuated, compressed gas and the main compression spring71 move the hammer 32 and slider 33 to the firing position, by movingthe slider 33 forward with hammer 32 slidably engaging the valve stem29. The hammer 32 engages valve stem 29, thereby unseating the valve cup28, causing the release of compressed gas into the gas passage 4,thereby propelling the projectile 100 through the barrel 10.

[0036] The slider 33 has moved forward into the firing position forcingthe hammer 32 to engage the tip of valve stem 29. Simultaneously, valvestem 29 is forced inwardly against the bias of valve spring 72 to unseatthe valve cup 28 from its seat, thus allowing the compressed gas toenter the barrel 10. Gas entering the barrel 10 progresses through theconduit formed by angular surfaces of the valve stem guide 30 and theport 220 in the forward portion of the bolt 9, forcing projectile 100,which has a diameter approximating that of the bore 5 of the barrel 10,out of the barrel 10 at a velocity dependent upon the gas pressurewithin the barrel 10 which is controlled by high pressure regulator 50.The solenoid 60 is then deactuated to force the slider 33 and hencehammer 32 back to the recocked position. Valve stem 29 is again biasedinto its seated position by valve spring 72 to prevent further flow ofcompressed gas into the barrel 10. Upon deactuation of solenoid 60, theslider 33 and hence the link pin 41 and bolt 9 are forced back to therecocked position. As the bolt 9 moves to the recocked position, theprojectile retention lever (not shown) allows a new projectile 100 toenter barrel 10 and again holds a next projectile (not shown) in placeunder bias of a spring.

[0037] Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that many physical changes could be made in theapparatus without altering the inventive concepts and principlesembodied therein. The present embodiment is therefore to be consideredin all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforgoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

I claim:
 1. In a compressed gas gun, the improvement comprising: a gaspassage conduit from a compressed gas storage chamber into a barrel forlaunching a projectile from said gas gun; the conduit comprising avalved discharge port from said compressed gas storage chamber, saiddischarge port connected to a port within a bolt within a breech of saidgas gun, said breech connected to the barrel of said gas gun; and, allangled surfaces within said gas passage conduit forming a maximum angleof about 23 degrees ±5 degrees.
 2. The compressed gas gun of claim 1wherein the gun is electronically controlled.
 3. The compressed gas gunof claim 1 wherein the gun has a high pressure circuit and a lowpressure circuit.